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New Orleans Library Book Donation Request

Summary:Email asks recipients to consider donating books to the New Orleans Public Library in order to help the library restock after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina (Full commentary below.)

Status:The New Orleans Public Library does require assistance to rebuild. However, sending books is not the best way to help.

Example:(Submitted, April 2006)

New Orleans Library Seeking Book Donations

Seeking Book Donations
The New Orleans Public Library
(New Orleans LA)

The New Orleans Public Library is asking for any and
all hardcover and paperback books for people of all
ages in an effort to restock the shelves after
Katrina. Staff will assess which titles will be
designated for its collections. The rest will be
distributed to destitute families or sold for library
fund-raising. Please send your books to:

If you tell the post office that they are for the
library in New Orleans, they will give you the library
rate which is slightly less than the book rate.

DO SOMETHING GOOD TODAY!

Commentary:
This email forward asks recipients to consider donating books to the New Orleans Public Library in order to help the library restock after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

The library was indeed extensively damaged by the storm and it is currently undertaking the mammoth task of rebuilding. However, sending your unwanted books is not the best way to help. The library has asked that people consider making a monetary donation rather than send books. Information on the library FAQ notes that:

The library literally receives hundreds of books each day from thoughtful individuals and organizations around the world. We are extremely grateful for this assistance. However, due to storage and staff limitations, we ask that you consider the suggestions regarding further donations which we outline below.

Monetary donations are the best way to help the library rebuild (link here to donate online). If you would rather mail your donation, please make your check payable to NOPL Foundation and send it to New Orleans Public Library Foundation, 219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112.

The FAQ suggests that you can also help by purchasing "Rebuild NOPL" Tshirts or bookplates or organizing a book sale and sending the proceeds to the library.

Rebuilding NOPL is certainly a worthwhile cause. However, cash donations and other means of support will be considerably more helpful for the rebuilding process than sending your used books. Before sending books, please review the entire NOPL Donations FAQ.